The AFL really doesn't get it ... does it?

[rjay 24,648]

I've only been to Etihad for non-Melbourne games, and usually busy ones, and I've always pretty much just walked up to a window, bought a ticket and walked in. It it only MFC games where there are long queues to get in?

They probably don't roster on any staff for our games 'Nasher'. The game against the Doggies was a debacle and not just on the ground. Got there just on game time and into the ground as the first quarter finished.

There were a lot of complaints after that game.

edit: Sorry the game was against Brisbane not the Doggies, tried to forget it. Was probably the worst game ever played in AFL history.

Edited November 20, 2014 by rjay

[Trisul 664]

The last three games I've attended at Etihad saw me seated after quarter time. The most recent, given prior experience, I arrived 30 minutes before start time - to no avail.

Ed: No, the AFL really doesn't get it.

Edited November 20, 2014 by Trisul

[wackojacko 25]

and this is why soccer will be number 1 in the long run. long live the beautiful game where nothing is changed because there is no need to

[whitito 187]

Talking about changes....one thing that has really ticked me off is that I truly love the absurdity of our game....who punches a ball off ones hand? Why not throw it?

Why play a game allllll afternoon?

Why is it ok to grab someone and tackle them ....but a slight graze to the face is a free?

I hate now how when a mark is taken in the goal square a set shot directly in front is awarded. I loved the theatre of putting the forward on a crazy acute angle. In theory it should be straight on shot...but because our game was so "kooky" you had this acute angle shot.

I hate how people moan about poor bounces from the umpires...it's a game and should be fraught with these talking points. Whose to say a round ball won't be introduced?

One thing I noticed at the NRL grand final was it felt like it was from a bygone era, two tribes red and green and blue and white. Our game is becoming vanilla.

Change the coin toss? For what reason? Fix the queus at ETIHAD, I missed the first quarters of Dees v St Kiilda and Bris this year in line.

Go Dees...End rant.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Eminem's 'lose yourself' song before the start of games at the 'G' as well as the countdown.

Seriously?

SERIOUSLY?

It's a disgusting joke.

There's nothing better than the slow build up of the voice of the crowd before a bounce at the 'G'. But now that's lost.

It makes me physically ill how americanised the game is becoming.

Edited November 20, 2014 by stevethemanjordan

[monoccular 17,341]

I agree 100% with those posters above who just wish they would turn the PA system off especially at the quarter breaks. If done want crappy music let them bring headphones: I like to chat with mates uninterrupted.

It is a real turn off - I wasn't asked to be one of the hundred.

If I wanted to listen to over amplified crappy music, and incessant fluffed up hype I would make a choice to go to watch basket ball: our game, yes AFL, OUR game not yours, doesn't need all this artificial crap.

All sounds so much like Kevin Rudd's "brightest and smartest" (or whatever) BS summit to set the course of Australia's future, which was merely a photo op for dear Kev to schmooze with "celebrities"

Did anyone here get an invitation to this latest fest??

Edited November 20, 2014 by monoccular

[dee-luded 2,959]

When I was a lad....(I know...Sometime ago).....I could attend any game of footy on a weekend

I could walk up to the gate, buy a ticket and sit anywhere in the ground, except the members...This gave me nearly 3/4 of the ground in which to sit. If it was a big game, I just got there early and watched the seconds play

I did not have to pay a premium cost to sit in certain spots....I did not have to pay for reserved seats.....I could save seats for family and friends....I could go to away games and stand in the outer and support my side.

I will state that I am a MCC member but still buy my footy club membership to support my club.

The AFL is slowly killing this game for me. They are pricing the game out of the ordinary supporter's reach

All for the sake of corperates, TV stations, do they really want empty grounds....Bad for TV audiences I would have thought.

I would not know how to buy a ticket now....I am not that computer literate.

agreed bossdog... totally

In redoing this thread another thing came to mind, its boring going to the same grounds all the time, ontop of the ripoffs at the food vendors & reserved seats, & all that craaap.

the away games of yesteryear had they're own challenges, & added excitement, planning with mates about where we would go & who's car to take, to go to the away venues. that little challenge & the viva la difference of the away games, had there own difference away from the mundane of the same old arena stuff.

I'm all for more boutique venues around Melbourne , say 4 smaller venues & the MCG.... sell that EdiesHat to the lowest bidder & lets get on with it.

[Bedraggled Dee 336]

I am going to Adelaide round three this season.

I'll see this magnificent "match day experience" the Adealide Oval is supposed to have produced for myself.

Forgive me for thinking it will be over-hyped shite influenced by American style corn.

I expect to hate it.

If it changes my mind I'll let you know.

I went with my wife for the Adelaide game last season. the ground is great and the city and surrounding hills is worth a look. We both thought that the crow squarking on the big screen after each goal and the annoucer trying to rev up the fans was over the top. Fake hype is worse than no hype. There are exiting games and boring games, a visual and audio display cant turn the latter into the former. Its fake American rubbish and is not wanted by me in the AFL game.

That being said I dont care when and how they do the toss, I generally clap if we win one but it has zero effect on the outcome.

To improve the fans experience they can lower the cost of food and drink, put in place more stuff for the kids to do to engage the young fans. Perhaps interactive tablet and phone apps for the kids would be a good thing to keep them engaged if the game is a bit dull.

The biggest thing the AFL can do for me to improve my experience is ensure the Demons have a level playing field with every other team so I can reasonably expect another premiership tilt in my lifetime. Going to footy and seeing more wins than losses will significnatly improve my game day experience

[old dee 23,506]

I went with my wife for the Adelaide game last season. the ground is great and the city and surrounding hills is worth a look. We both thought that the crow squarking on the big screen after each goal and the annoucer trying to rev up the fans was over the top. Fake hype is worse than no hype. There are exiting games and boring games, a visual and audio display cant turn the latter into the former. Its fake American rubbish and is not wanted by me in the AFL game.

That being said I dont care when and how they do the toss, I generally clap if we win one but it has zero effect on the outcome.

To improve the fans experience they can lower the cost of food and drink, put in place more stuff for the kids to do to engage the young fans. Perhaps interactive tablet and phone apps for the kids would be a good thing to keep them engaged if the game is a bit dull.

The biggest thing the AFL can do for me to improve my experience is ensure the Demons have a level playing field with every other team so I can reasonably expect another premiership tilt in my lifetime. Going to footy and seeing more wins than losses will significnatly improve my game day experience

Going and seeing as many wins as losses would improve mine out of sight.

[nutbean 8,838]

If they get rid of the coin toss I will not renew my membership

[old dee 23,506]

If they get rid of the coin toss I will not renew my membership

I would join you but I already have renewed.

Edited November 20, 2014 by old dee

[daisycutter 29,353]

I would join you but I already have renewed.

you don't own a microwave, od?

[old dee 23,506]

you don't own a microwave, od?

I don't have it yet dc

Bloody MFC can't get it to me after I renewed four weeks back.

Can we do anything well.

[Pipefitter 2,139]

Every year when the AFL see the atmosphere at A-League games they start to *#&@ themselves a little. What they have to realise there is nothing artificial about that atmosphere. No Bells and whistles trying to amp up a crowd. The crowd in itself is the spectacle.

[nutbean 8,838]

I would join you but I already have renewed.

So have I, so instead I will resort to making an effigy of Neeld and Watts and burning them. I was going to go with burning of Mark Evans and Gillon but I realised that darker forces must be at play.

[DubDee 24,561]

I think the main problem is the lack of people at the game. As some have mentioned, the croud noise is the real atmosphere. The MCG is so big that you can get that good atmosphere unles there are 60,000 plus at games. as we know only one of our games per year is the stadium half full. Thats why Adealide oval is good and Aami park for Football, you only need 15-20 thousand at Aami for it to have a great loud atmosphere.

Etihad just sucks as a stadium, just has no soul. Better planning could have meant, Waverly, Princes park, etc could all be used, giving the real home ground feel to different teams

Anyway, not much we can about it aside from getting bigger crowds and winning some goddamn games

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

The fact that Etihad still has a sub-standard surface is a disgrace. I also don't like the shape of the ground, too skinny.

[old dee 23,506]

I have thought about why I don't like the dome of death and leaving aside the numerous problems we have all endured

I think it comes down to two things for me.

I am confident that I don't like playing football inside, there is just something about it that I struggle with.

The other is we seldom get less than a belting when we play there.

I am very confident if we won 90% of our games there I would miraculously grow to love the place.

[daisycutter 29,353]

I don't have it yet dc

Bloody MFC can't get it to me after I renewed four weeks back.

Can we do anything well.

it's the same with all clubs, you should get it in dec.......can't use it now anyway (except for microwave)

[biggestred 4,830]

There's a reason grass roots local footy is booming.

Its what footy is meant to be.

Cold beer in cans for 3.50

Warm pies for 2

No [censored]

A raffle for a meat tray

10 bucks entry

Can listen to the coaches at 1/4 and 3/4 time

Toot your horn when theres a goal

Sit in the back of the ute and drink cans

Try and pick up netball chicks

Theres 2 or 3 games to watch

Whats not to love

Edit

I forgot

No loud crappy music

No announcers talking rubbish

No betting odds on the screen

No horrible ads at full volume

Easy entry

No false hype!

Edited November 20, 2014 by biggestred

[old dee 23,506]

it's the same with all clubs, you should get it in dec.......can't use it now anyway (except for microwave)

It was a joke dc

[old dee 23,506]

There's a reason grass roots local footy is booming.

Its what footy is meant to be.

Cold beer in cans for 3.50

Warm pies for 2

No [censored]

A raffle for a meat tray

10 bucks entry

Can listen to the coaches at 1/4 and 3/4 time

Toot your horn when theres a goal

Sit in the back of the ute and drink cans

Try and pick up netball chicks

Theres 2 or 3 games to watch

Whats not to love

Edit

I forgot

No loud crappy music

No announcers talking rubbish

No betting odds on the screen

No horrible ads at full volume

Easy entry

No false hype!

Who do you follow I might join you next year>

[biggestred 4,830]

Who do you follow I might join you next year>

Churchill in the ngnfl

But the above has been my experience everywhere i have been

[nutbean 8,838]

Who do you follow I might join you next year>

go the Bunyip Bulldogs !

I watched my squeezes son play junior football for Bunyip (EDFL) and if the Dees weren't playing the same day would watch all the way through to the seniors.

Even had the dubious privilege of listening to Big Mummy address the players ( ex Bunyip boy). Watched Mal Michael play for Nilma Darnum for one season. His preferred position for the Nilma Darnum bombers was wherever he wanted.

Biggestred - obiviously you don't get down to the games early enough as you missed the best part of local football - toasted egg and bacon sandwiches ($1.50) at 10am !

[P-man 13,366]

My main issue with Etihad is the results there. I don't see what all the fuss is about over it as a venue. It's perfectly fine, unless you have a particular issue with the roof. As for long cues...lol...at MFC games? Come on.

I think the AFL are simply saying they are open to change. That's the gist of the article. They have seen the success at AO (despite the financial statements), and view fan engagement and experience as becoming a higher priority. It's all very well in catering to those who long for the old days, or think the professional league should look to local footy with tinnies in the back of the ute for inspiration, but there is a younger demographic that the game needs to grow and evolve with.

There is absolutely a place for traditions to be upheld and the coin toss arguably falls under that banner, but as for pre-game build up in general, some changes are likely.

As long as it's not the bugler, and we can possibly avoid music and fireworks after every goal ala Gold Coast, I'm going to keep an open mind.